A blog about my journey through life as a homemaker, wife, homeschooling mother and follower of Christ.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Another Trip to a Farm

Since I have changed the way we eat around here, I make many more trips to buy local produce, dairy, and meat products.

Friday I traveled to a farm about forty minutes away to buy our milk, cheese and butter. I carry my own glass containers and they fill them with milk at the farm. This time I bought 2 gallons of milk, 2 blocks of cheese, and a 1lb of butter.

The milk comes from mostly grass-fed jersey cows, they are fed a small amount of grain at milking time. It is delicious. The cheese was awesome. This time I bought farmer and pepperjack. I haven't used the butter yet, but I'm sure it is tasty.

Here are the following changes I've made within the last couple of years. Keep in mind that I have implemented these slowly, it takes time to change the way a family eats.

1. Local raw (unpasteurized, non-homogonized) milk, and cheese. (Occasionally butter, if not local I buy Organic Valley from the store.).

2. We buy our beef and poultry from local farmers we know and trust. The beef is grass-fed. The chickens are pastured. We eat wild game (deer) that my dad harvests during deer season.3. We use eggs from local farmers that come from free-range hens.4. We use only unrefined, natural sweeteners: raw honey, maple syrup, agave nectar, sucanat or Rapadura.5. I soak all grains and beans, 12-24 hours before cooking to enhance nutrient absorption.6. We use organic fruits and vegetables. I joined a CSA (community supported agriculture) that delivers fresh organic vegetables weekly. I also shop at the local farmers market. Fruit is a little more difficult to find locally. I buy the organic options in the stores. If money is tight, I use the dirty dozen as a guide. (http://www.foodnews.org/) I also plant a small summer and winter garden here at home.

Coming soon the changes I am working on making and the ones that haven't worked well for us!

Contributors

My Love

Chris and I have been married for 18 years. He is such a wonderful husband but what I love most is watching him be a daddy. He is our protector, provider, priest and prophet and I am forever grateful.

Six Little Quicks

Bo...the oldest

This is our oldest. He's a thinker...asks the hard questions. He loves legos...history...mom's homemade pizza...reading... fishing and hiking. He's our responsible young man. I know God created him for such a time as this and I can't wait to see his plan unfold.

Boo...10 years

This boy has a servant's heart. When I ask for help I know he'll say "sure". He enjoys working with his hands..helping his daddy work around the house makes his day. He loves legos...gardening...shooting his BB gun and hiking.

Miss LouLou...8 years

Miss LouLou is beautiful...independent...sweet...shy. She loves taking care of the younger ones. She holds baby brother and buries her face in his hair and just breathes...she loves his smell...and I love to watch her practice being a mommy. Now with a new sister she is getting more practice than ever. Although she insists she's not getting married...she's living with mommy and daddy forever;-)

Little Bitty...6 years

Little Bitty is giggles and fire and sneaky and cute. She brings laughter and love and snuggles to our day. She's daddy's best buddy and cries when mommy leaves the room...but as soon as she calms down she finds something to get her hands into;-)

Nayna...4years

Nayna is huggable...loveable...and rather loud too. She makes us laugh. She and rooster are best buddies and can make each other scream too. She is already sounding out words and writing them and showing interest in learning to read. No one else has shown an interest at such a young age.

Rooster...3 years

Sweet baby boy...I love to bury my nose in his hair and just breathe...I love to kiss those cheeks dripping with sugar...I love to get a smile from him first thing in the morning...I love the way he reminds me of a fresh start...He is growing in independence and he loves to talk!

"Thank you for letting Jesus in our home." -Bo 3 years

"He settles the barren womanin her homeas the happy mother of children."Praise the Lord!"Psalms 113:9

"Let me repeat, that I venture to suggest, not what is practicable in any household, but what seems to me absolutely best for the children; and that, in the faith that mothers work wonders once they are convinced that wonders are demanded of them."-Charlotte Mason